Best heated waterer for chickens during extreme cold?

[FunSally]

Hen Mama here—veteran of many a broody stare-down and proud parent to flock #12 (yes, I may have a problem). I'm on the hunt for a new heated waterer or system that won’t throw in the towel—or freeze solid—when winter hits us like a ton of frozen eggs here in northern New England. We’re talking negative 20 degrees kind of cold. The kind of cold that makes the chickens look at you like, “This was your idea, remember?”

I've been using the trusty Farm Innovators plastic heater with the cord + Therma Cube combo (love that lil' cube!). BUT since I use it year-round, I end up MacGyvering the cord into some sad, summer spaghetti, and by the time winter rolls around… let's just say it’s less “heated hydration” and more “frozen regret.”

So tell me—what are y’all using in the bitter cold months to keep your flock’s water from becoming poultry popsicles?

All ideas welcome—bonus points for anything that won’t require a degree in electrical engineering or a chicken-sized blowtorch.

 

[DobieLover]

I've been using the same waterer without issue for 7 years. I don't wad the cord when I unplug it. It just lays on the ground behind the chimney block I have the base set on.

 

[Sefirothe]

I use a Premier1 heated waterer year round. The cord detaches from the back and they give you a little rubber cap to put over the port.

 

[Mother of Chaos]

I use a Premier1 heated waterer year round. The cord detaches from the back and they give you a little rubber cap to put over the port.

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Your hens have an amazing view!!

 

[Sefirothe]

Your hens have an amazing view!!

Yes, but that view means no room to expand and I must steadfastly and continuously battle chicken math.

 

[paintedChix]

Honestly - sometimes using rubber tubs that can be dumped every night (dumped into bowl that's taken inside) is best. Bring water out in the AM, give a last, warmed drink before bringing it in at night.

And leave rubber tub upside down overnight.

Or... there is a way to use earth thermo dynamics, but when I posted info, another BYCer "debunked" it. I'll see if i can find that...

Edit to add - this is video id posted before. I can't find my previous post w/o a lot of digging.

 

[BarredRockSquawk]

I've been using the same waterer without issue for 7 years. I don't wad the cord when I unplug it. It just lays on the ground behind the chimney block I have the base set on.

Uhhh, and which corded waterer do you have?

 

[Luna Mesa]

I use a Premier1 heated waterer year round. The cord detaches from the back and they give you a little rubber cap to put over the port.

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I bought one of these and tried to teach some meat birds how to use it. I even changed the drippers out to cups. I am just afraid my old hens won't learn to use it. And what is on your chickens face?

 

[Luna Mesa]

Here’s my setup:
-22 °F is the coldest it’s ever been here on my ranch in southern Colorado. That’s my Farm Innovators 125 W Heated Base Coop Heater—going on its fourth or fifth winter.

And no, you don’t need a metal waterer.

I’ve run a 3-gallon Little Giant plastic waterer on it for years with zero warping or softening.

A few facts:

The base only energizes when temps drop below about 35 °F.

Surface temperature, when energized, stays around 110–130 °F — you can rest your hand on it for several seconds.

HDPE, the plastic used in most waterers, softens near 180 °F and melts around 250 °F.

The water in the fount typically holds 40–50 °F, even in sub-zero weather.

So while the manufacturer says “metal founts only,” in real-world use the base just keeps water above freezing. It never gets anywhere near hot enough to harm plastic. If you’re still uneasy, slip a thin metal pizza pan or tile between the base and the waterer to spread the heat evenly.

 

[Sally PB]

I have a heated dog water bowl, which turns on at around 35-40°F, holds about 5 quarts. It's up on a cinder block to help keep the chickens from kicking dirt into it.